The Henley Passport Index reveals that as of the beginning of 2024, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain jointly hold the title of the world’s most powerful passports, granting visa-free entry to 194 destinations globally. The rankings are based on data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
While Japan and Singapore have consistently occupied the top spot over the past five years, the latest ranking sees European nations rising in prominence. Finland and Sweden, tied with South Korea, secure the second position, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands share the third position, allowing passport holders entry into 192 destinations.
India’s passport secures the 80th spot in the ranking, enabling citizens to travel to 62 countries without a visa. Notable destinations accessible for Indian passport holders include Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. India shares its current ranking with Uzbekistan, while neighboring Pakistan is positioned at 101st.
Henley & Partners Chairman Christian H Kaelin, the creator of the passport index, highlighted the growing global mobility gap among countries. Despite an overall trend toward increased travel freedom in the past two decades, the disparity between the highest and lowest rankings has reached a record high.
Kaelin noted that the average number of visa-free destinations for travelers has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. The top-ranked countries now enjoy the privilege of traveling to 166 more destinations visa-free compared to Afghanistan, which holds the bottom spot on the list with access to only 28 countries without a visa. Syria, with visa-free access to 29 destinations, ranks second-lowest, followed by Iraq with 31 and Pakistan with 34.